Rotary engine.



G. E. BALL. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.17, 190s.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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WITNESSES IN VEN TOR. w g By 44 54 ATTORNEY.

Patented. Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. BALL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED H0117, 190s.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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WITNESSES 1N VEN TOR.

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G.B.BALL.V

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION nun) NOV. 17, 1908.

Patented Dec.27,191().

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WITNESSES IN VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEY.

G. E. BALL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED NOV.17, 190s.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHBET 5.

WITNESSES 1N VEN TOR.

BY g y .1 @wmv f/ zzw ATTORNEY.

GEORGE E. BALL, 0F CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed November 17, 1908. Serial No. 463,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R0 tary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of en gines or pumps, actuated by steam, gas, or other agent, wherein the abutment comprises a rotary diaphragm intersecting the path of the piston.

The primary objects of my invention are a reduction of the vibration, high speed, a maximum range of speeds with high efiiciencly at all speeds, and reversib'lity.

' Ot er important objects are simplicity, reliability, durability, ease of replacement of parts, and economy in cost and operation.

Additional objectsare to control the temperature of the cylinder, abutment, and adjacent parts; to eliminate friction of the working parts; and prevent leakage of the motive agent.

To all the ends above enumerated and others which will be manifest to those skilled in the art after the examination of this specification, invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein my invention is disclosed as embodied in an engine having a single piston and abutment, and as adapted to the utilization of an explosive gas fuel,

but it will be obvious that various modifications of the structure and arrangement of the parts may be desirable according to the service required of the engine and the motive agent to be employed, and. that such changes and modifications may be made without departin from the spirit of my invention and wit iout exceeding the scope of the appended claims. For instance, additional pistons may be preferred, with or without additional abutnients; the abutments' maybe positioned differently with relation to the motive chamber, may differ 7 in relative size, may operate at different relative speeds, have'a different number of passage gaps, and differ in form and construction according to the duty required and motive agent employed; rotation of the abutment shaft may be effected by any con venient means; the sectional form of the motive chamber and of the casing may be radically modified and so forth.

The accompanying drawin s, therefore, illustrate my invention as em odied in an elementary or typical apparatus, but it will,

be understood that the scope of the invention is in no Way limited to such a particular embodiment.

In the drawings, Figures 1' and 2 are end and side elevations respectively of an engine embodying the various features of my invention in the preferred form, Figs. 3 and 4:, sections on line 4; v of Fig. l and w 'w of Fig. 2, respectively, Fig. 5, a front elevation of the piston and disk, Figs. 6 and 7, sections on line ac a: of Fig. 5 and line 3 3 of Fig. 6, respectively, and Fi 8, a perspective view of the iston and disk.

Like reference c aracters indicate like parts throughout the views.

The engine casing and its base or supports may be of any construction suitable for carrying the several details of mechanism. In the form thereof herein shown it consists essentiall of a main or lower casing, 1, and auxi iary or upper casing, 2. The former comprises two castin s having substantially circular lower portions, 3, and nearly semi-circular hollow transversely disposed upper portions, 4. Annular flanges, 5, upon the adjacent portions, 3, are united by bolts, 6, and marginal flanges, 7, upon the portions, 1, are connected by bolts, 8, with a marginal flange, 9, upon a fiat hollow semicircular casting, 10, which completes the upper casing. The en tire casing thus comprises two vertically transposed flattened circular portions which merge into each other. Marginal lateral lugs, 11, upon the casing, 1, form supports for the structure.

In the center of the walls of the casing, 1, are adjustably secured open-bearings, 12, with grooved inner marginal faces, 13, forming outer cones or ball races. Similar bearings or cones, 14, with like faces, 15, are secured in the walls of the casing, 2.

The power shaft, 17 and abutment shaft, 18, pass through the bearings, 12 and 14, respectively. The latter shaft derives its motion from the power shaft in any suitable manner. In the form shown, a bevel gear, 19, upon the shaft, 17, meshes with a like gear, 20, fixed to a rotary shaft or stud, 21, mounted in a depending arm, 22, upon the casing, 1. Fixed 0-11 the shaft, 18, within the housing or casing, 2, is a gear, 23. This is connected with gear, 20, by two gears, 24 and 25. mounted res ectivel u )011 studs 5 30, and afford anti-frictional bearings for the shaft, 18. The shaft, 17, has two similar races or cones, 32, which rest balls, 34, registering in the grooves, 13.

Mounted upon the shaft, 18, in the chamber, 35, formed by the housing, 2, is an abutment, 36, having a hub portion, 37, and tapering sides, 38. The abutment has a portion of its margin cut away as at 39, and is provided with an arcuate internal cavity, 40, from one end of which an internal passage 41, extends through the hub. 37, and opens into a central bore, 42, in the shaft, 18. From the other end of the cavity, 40, extends a similar passage, 43, through the hub and into a second central bore, 44, in the shaft. The bored portions of the shaft, 18, are separated by a partition, 44. In a peripheral groove, 45, upon the abutment is a packing, 46. 'A collar, 47, is located on the shaft and abuts against the hub, 37, and one of the cones, 29. A water feed pipe, 49, is connected to one end of the shaft, 18, by a union, 50, loose upon the shaft end and provided with packing, T o the opposite end of the shaft is connected by a loose union, 52, and packing, 52 an outlet pipe, 53.

The casing, 1, is provided with two circular cavities, 55, which nearly surround the piston chamber, and which near the path of the abutment are preferably enlarged as at 55. This casing is also provided with an annular piston chamber, 56, and a contracted circular intermediate opening, 57, leading to a central chamber, 58. Theportions, 59, of the castings, 3, form the opening, 57, and are provided with one or more packlng' rings, 60. Upon the inner inclined bearing faces of the casing intermediate the chamber, 35, and' the piston chamber are curved packing rings, 61, concentric with the cylinder opening contacting with the faces of the abutment.

Mounted upon the shaft,17, in the casing, 1, is a piston member comprising a hub, 63, disk 64, and piston 65, which rotate respec tively in the openings, 58, 57 and 56. The rotary abutment, 36, intersects the chamber, 56, and its packing, 46, contacts with the periphery of 'tiisk, 64.

In detail the piston, 65, comprises two vertical end supports, 67 and 68, integral with the disk, 64, and provided with openwithgrooves, 33, in

portion, 39, of the abutment which is timed respectively provided with central orifices,

70 and 80, and recesses, 81 and 82. The orifices are to loosely accommodate the bolt, '71, and the recesses, to form a seat'for a flat spring, 83, which bears against the bolt. Upon the seats, 77 and 78, of the bearing blocks are packing rings, 84 and 85, together with an intermediate split ring, 86, provided at its lower split portion with lugs, 88, seated in a transverse recess, 89, in the piston disk or web portion, 64.

The piston chamber, 56, is provided with exhaust outlets, 90 and 91, and upon opposite sides of the path of the abutment, with fuel inlets, 92 and 93.

94 and 95 are the outlet pipes, and 96 and 97, the inlet pipes to the openings, 90, 91, 92 and 93, respectively. 98 and 99 are water inlet and outlet pipes respectively in the casing leading to and from the cavities, 55.

The operation is as follows: The motive agent enters through one ofthe inlets, 93, into the piston chamber, 56, intermediate the abutment, 36, and theface of the piston and by expansion rotates the piston, which during its revolution traverses the recessed to accommodate such 1 passage, exhaust taking place meantime through port, 90'. In reversing, the motive agent enters port, 92, and exhausts through port, 91. Thecontinned revolution of the mechanism forms a motive chamber successively between the abutment and piston, the latterat each revolution sweeping from the chamber all spent fuel. The abutment is actuated from the shaft, 17, through the gear train, 19, 20.

28, 25, 24 and 23. During the operation of the mechanism water or any othertemperature regulating medium is circulated .through the abutment36, as follows: The

medium is introduced from any convenient source under pressure through the feed pipe,

49, the bore, 42,'and passage, 41, into the chamber, '40; thence. through passage, 43, bore 44, and outlet pipe, 53. This circulation cools or otherwise regulates the temperature of the abutment. .For the purpose of regulating the temperature er the cylinder casing the regulating medium enters through feed pipe, 98, traversing cavi ties, 55', 55, and escapes through pipe, 99.

It will be further noted that since the inclined sides of the abutment are in substantially parallel planes with the piston faces at the instant of explosion. a maximum of force is obtained from the explosion by virtue of the non-deflectire position of the abutment surface. The inclined sides of the abutment lessens the area of the walls of the explosion chamber, thereby utilizing a maximum of heat units. Furthermore, the abutment itself is stiffened by virtue of the inclined character of its walls, notwithstanding the lightness resultant from its hollow construction.

What I claim is,

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing provided with an abutment chamber and cylinder chamber, of a hollow abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber provided with tapering sides and with av continuous. internal chamber communicating with interior-of the shaft, and inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing provided with an abutment chamber and cylinder chamber,..o'f a hollow abutment shaft mounted in the "casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber provided with tapering sides and with a cylindrical arcuate internal chamber communicating with the interior of the shaft, and inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediatethe-chambers adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing )rovided with an abutment chamber and cylinder chamber, of a hollow abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abut-- ment chamber provided with tapering sides and with a curved interior chamber and with passages-extending from the ends of the chamber to the interior of the shaft, and inclined. bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers and adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing rovided with an abutment chamber, of a ho low abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon'the shaft within the abutment chamber provided with tapering sides and with a curved interior chamber having spiral radially disposed passages extending from the chamber to the interior of the shaft, and inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers and adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment.

' 5. In a; rotary engine, the combination with a casing provided with an abutment chamber and a cylinder chamber. of an abutment shaftmounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber adapted to intersect the cylinder chamber and provided with tapering sides, inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment, said intermediateportion of the casing being provided with water cavities and packing rings in the casing intermediate the abutment and the water cavities.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing provided with an abutment chamber and a cylinder chamber. of a hollow abutment shaft. mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and intersecting the cylinder chamber rovided with a continuous internal cham er communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft, and provided with tapering sides, inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the abutment chamber and cylinder chamber adapted to receive the tapering sidesof the abutment, said in termediate portion of the casing being provided near the path of the abutment with water cavities.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing provided with an abutment chamber and a cylinder chamber, of an abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and provided with tapering sides, inclined faces upon casing intermediate the chambers to form a bearing for the tapering sides of the abutment, and a series of concentrically disposed packing rings in the casing intermediate the chambers contacting with the sides of the abutment.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing provided with an abutment chamber and a cylinder chamber, of an abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and provided with tapering sides, inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers to receive the tapering sides of the abutment, and curved packing rings in the casing intermediate the chambers contacting with the sides of the abutment.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing provided with an abut-ment chamber and cylinder chamber, of a hollow abutment shaft mounted in the casing, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and intersecting the cylinder chamber provided with a curved interior chamber and with passages extending from the ends of the chamber to the interior of the shaft, and provided with tapering sides, inclined bearing faces upon the casing intermediate the abutment chamber and cylinder chamber adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment,said intermediate portion of the casing being provided near the path of the abutment with water cavities.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing provided with an abutment chamber and cylinder chamber, of a hollow abutment shaft mounted in the casing, bearings in the casing around the shaft and longitudinally adjustable with relation to the shaft, an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber intermediate the bearings and provided with an internal chamber communicating with the hollow shaft, and

rovided with tapering sides, and intersectg the cylinder chamber, inclined bearing faces upon thecasing intermediate the abutment chamber and cylinder chamber adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment, the portions of the casing adjacent the cylinder chamber and the path of the hearing faces being provided with water cavities.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing, of an abutment shaft mounted in the upper portion of said casing, an abutment upon the shaft, in frictional contact with the casing and having a chamber,

means for regulating the temperature with in the abutment chamber, bearings within the upper portion of the casing around said shaft upon opposite sides of theabutment and adjustable toward and away from the abutment, the lower portion of said casing forming a piston chamber.

12. In a rotary engine, the. combination with the cylinder casing provided with wa-.

ter cavities, of a power shaft traversing the casing, a piston disk upon the shaft, a piston upon the disk contacting with the casing near the water cavities, an adjacent casing, and an abutment therein having aninternal chamber, bearings in the casings upon opposite sides of the abutment and. adjustable toward and away from the same, packing rings in the casing intermediate the abutment and the water cavities and bearings upon opposite sides of the disk and adjustable toward and away from the same.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder casing having water cavities, and an abutment chamber and packing rings in the casing intermediate the abutment and water cavities of means for regulating the temperature within the casing, a power shaft traversing the casing, a piston ment beingprovided with tapered sides and said continuous internal chamber terminate ing in radially disposed oppositely curved passages extending into the interior of said shaft.-

15. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing walls, and the hollow abutment shaft mounted in said walls, andan abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and provided with tapering sides and with an arcuate cylindrical chamber terminating in radially disposed oppositely curved passages extending into the 1nterior of the shaft, said internal chamber and passages forming a continuous spirally disposed openin of open bearings inthe walls around sai shaft and ball cones fixed to the shaft adjacent the bearings with balls intermediate the cones and bearlngs.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination. with the casing walls, and the hollow abutment shaft mounted in said walls, and an abutment upon the shaft within the abutment chamber and provided with tapermg sides and with an arcuate cylindrical chamber terminating in radially disposed oppositely curved passages extending into the interior of the shaft, said internal chamber and passages forming a continuous spirally disposed opening, of open bearings in the walls around said shaft provided with grooves upon their faces, ball cones fixed to the shaft adjacent the bearings and provided with. peripheral grooves, and balls seated in the grooves upon the bearings and upon the cones.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder casing walls, the power shaft traversing said walls, an abutment chamber within said casing, and an annular piston chamber communicating therewith, of open bearings adjustably fixed in the walls around the shaft, ball cones fixed to the shaft adjacent the bearings, a piston disk between said cones, and balls intermediate the cones and bearings.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder casing walls, an abutment .chamber therein, the power shaft traversing the walls, and an annular piston chamber communicating therewith, of open bearings adjustably fixed in the walls around the shaft provided with grooves upon their faces, ball cones fixed to the power shaft adjacent the bearings and provided with peripheral grooves, a piston disk between said cones and balls registering in the grooves of the bearings and cones.v

19. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder casing provided with an opening for the piston disk, an abutment chamber in said casing, and an annular piston chamber communicating therewith, of a power shaft in the casing, a piston disk upon the shaft extending into the opening, and adjustable bearingse in the casing aroun the shaft, the mem rs of which bearings enwith the casing provided with an abutment chamber and cylinder chamber, of a hollow abutment shaft mounted in. the casing, an I abutment upon the shaft Within the abut-- ment chamber provided with tapermg sides and with an internal arcuate cylindrical chamber terminating in radially disposed oppositely curved passages extending into the interior of the shaft, said internal chamher and passages forming a continuous spirally disposed opening, and inclined bear- 1 ing faces upon the casing intermediate the chambers adapted to receive the tapering sides of the abutment. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE E. BALL.

W'itnesses: g \VILLIAM' E. Turn, 1 Holm'rio E. BELLOWS. 

